Pyrrhocoridae

Last updated

Red bugs, cotton stainers
Pyrrhocoris apterus group.jpg
Pyrrhocoris apterus (Spain) with reduced wings
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Suborder: Heteroptera
Superfamily: Pyrrhocoroidea
Family: Pyrrhocoridae
Fieber, 1860
Type genus
Pyrrhocoris
Fallen, 1814
Genera

See text

Pyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. Many are red coloured and are known as red bugs and some species are called cotton stainers because their feeding activities leave an indelible yellow-brownish stain on cotton crops. A common species in parts of Europe is the firebug, and its genus name Pyrrhocoris and the family name are derived from the Greek roots for fire "pyrrho-" and bug "coris". Members of this family are often confused with, but can be quickly separated from, Lygaeidae by the lack of ocelli (simple eyes) on the top of the head.

Contents

Description

The membrane of the forewing has one or two cells from which about 7-8 branching veins emerge that may have branches that fuse together (anastomose) while the main veins reach the margins of the wing. They have three tarsal segments. They can be very difficult to separate from some members of the family Largidae, which also share some of these characters and belong to the same superfamily. Largids tend to have the edge of the pronotum (the top of the first thoracic segment) rounded, but the taxonomic feature for separating them is the found only in females. Female largids have the sixth visible (actually the seventh) abdominal segment appearing to be split in the middle, whereas it is undivided in female pyrrhocorids. [1] A few bugs in the family Rhopalidae have similar colors (e.g., Corizus hyoscyami ) but they have ocelli, as do lygaeids.

The scutellum is small and triangular. The antennae are made up of four segments, with the second segment longer than the third. The beak-like mouthpart, or rostrum, has four segments, and its tip reaches at least the base of the middle pair of legs. Some species have the wing reduced so that the abdomen is visible from above. [2] More detailed distinguishing features that are usually visible only under a microscope, include a much reduced scent gland opening on the mid-thoracic segment. There are three sensory hairs or trichobothria on the abdominal segments 3 to 6 and two such hairs on the seventh segment. [3]

The genus Myrmoplasta is found in the African and Oriental regions and is somewhat unusual in having highly reduced wings and appearing ant-like or myrmecomorphic. Males and females differ in their foreleg morphology, although such sexual dimorphism is also found in a few other genera. [4]

Food

Most species feed on seeds or fruits particularly of plants belonging to the Malvales but a few feed on rotting debris including dead animal matter. A few species are predatory; Raxa nishidai is a predator of another pyrrhocorid, Melamphaus faber , while Antilochus coquebertii feeds on other bugs including Dysdercus cingulatus . [5] A few are important crop pests. One species, Dysdercus suturellus , is well known in the southern cotton growing regions of the United States while Dysdercus cingulatus occurs on cotton in tropical Asia. They damage cotton bolls by staining as well as by cutting the fibres. [2] [6]

Genera

Antilochus coquebertii Antilochus coquebertii (Fabricius, 1803) (20030092419).jpg
Antilochus coquebertii
Dysdercus cingulatus, India Dysdercus cingulatus, mating.jpg
Dysdercus cingulatus , India
Melamphaus faber Melamphaus faber (Fabricius, 1787) 23 mm Pyrrhocoridae (16217558036).jpg
Melamphaus faber
Probergrothius nigricornis Probergrothius nigricornis (Stal,1861) Kapok Bug Pyrrhocoridae (16057326589).jpg
Probergrothius nigricornis

Genera within this family include: [7] [1] [8]

  1. Aderrhis Bergroth, 1906
  2. Antilochus Stål, 1863
  3. Armatillus Distant, 1908
  4. Australodindymus Stehlík & Jindra, 2012
  5. Brancucciana Ahmad & Zaidi, 1986
  6. Callibaphus Stål, 1868
  7. Cenaeus Stål, 1861
  8. Dermatinus Stål, 1853
  9. Dindymus Stål, 1861
  10. Dynamenais Kirkaldy, 1905
  11. Dysdercus Guérin-Méneville, 1831
  12. Ectatops Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843
  13. Euscopus Stål, 1870 [9]
  14. Froeschnerocoris Ahmad & Kamaluddin, 1986 [10]
  15. Gromierus Villiers, 1951
  16. Guentheriana Stehlík, 2006
  17. Heissianus Stehlík, 2006
  18. Melamphaus Stål, 1868
  19. Myrmoplasta Gerstäcker, 1892
  20. Neodindymus Stehlik, 1965
  21. Neoindra Stehlik, 1965
  22. Paraectatops Stehlík, 1965
  23. Probergrothius Kirkaldy, 1904 (OdontopusLaporte, 1832 probably preoccupied [1] )
  24. Pyrrhocoris Fallén, 1814
  25. Pyrrhopeplus Stål, 1870
  26. Roscius Stål, 1866
  27. Scantius Stål, 1866
  28. Schmitziana Stehlik, 1977
  29. Sericocoris Karsch, 1892
  30. Siango Blöte, 1933
  31. Sicnatus Villiers & Dekeyser, 1951
  32. Silasuwe Stehlík, 2006
  33. Stictaulax Stål, 1870
  34. Syncrotus Bergroth, 1895

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentatomidae</span> Family of insects

Pentatomidae is a family of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera, generally called shield bugs or stink bugs. Pentatomidae is the largest family in the superfamily Pentatomoidea, and contains around 900 genera and over 4700 species. As hemipterans, the pentatomids have piercing sucking mouthparts, and most are phytophagous, including several species which are severe pests on agricultural crops. However, some species, particularly in the subfamily Asopinae, are predatory and may be considered beneficial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coreidae</span> Family of insects

Coreidae is a large family of predominantly sap-sucking insects in the Hemipteran suborder Heteroptera. The name "Coreidae" derives from the genus Coreus, which derives from the Ancient Greek κόρις (kóris) meaning bedbug.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scutelleridae</span> Family of insects

Scutelleridae is a family of true bugs. They are commonly known as jewel bugs or metallic shield bugs due to their often brilliant coloration. With the name based on the Asian genus Scutellera, they are also known as shield-backed bugs due to the enlargement of the thoracic scutellum into a continuous shield over the abdomen and wings. This latter characteristic distinguishes them from most other families within Heteroptera, and may lead to misidentification as a beetle rather than a bug. These insects feed on plant juices from a variety of different species, including some commercial crops. Closely related to stink bugs, they may also produce an offensive odour when disturbed. There are around 450 species worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentatominae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Pentatominae is a subfamily of Pentatomidae, a family of shield bugs. This subfamily is the largest one within the Pentatomidae, having 4937 species classified in 938 genera. Species in this subfamily are phytophages and several of them are considered agricultural pests. Some invasive pentatomines such as Halyomorpha halys and Bagrada hilaris have been considered household pests. Higher systematics of the group have been revised by Rider et al.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lygaeoidea</span> Superfamily of true bugs

The Lygaeoidea are a sizeable superfamily of true bugs, containing seed bugs and allies, in the order Hemiptera. There are about 16 families and more than 4,600 described species in Lygaeoidea, found worldwide. Most feed on seeds or sap, but a few are predators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alydidae</span> Family of true bugs

Alydidae, commonly known as broad-headed bugs, is a family of true bugs very similar to the closely related Coreidae. There are at least 60 genera and 300 species altogether. Distributed in the temperate and warmer regions of the Earth, most are tropical and subtropical animals; for example Europe has a mere 10 species, and only 2 of these occur outside the Mediterranean region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coreinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Coreinae is a subfamily in the hemipteran family Coreidae. They have been shown to be paraphyletic with respect to Meropachyinae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpactorinae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

The Harpactorinae are a large subfamily of the Reduviidae. About 300 genera and 2,000 species worldwide have been described. Some of the species of the genera Zelus, Pselliopus, Sinea, and Apiomerus are of interest as biological pest control agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harpactorini</span> Tribe of true bugs

Harpactorini is a tribe of the Harpactorinae. This group is the most diverse of the entire assassin bug family, with 51 genera recognized in the Neotropical Region and 289 genera and 2003 species overall.

<i>Dysdercus</i> Genus of true bugs

Dysdercus is a widespread genus of true bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae; a number of species attacking cotton bolls may be called "cotton stainers".

<i>Antilochus</i> (bug) Genus of true bugs

Antilochus is an Old World genus of true bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae. Species in this genus occurs in tropical Africa including Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and New Guinea. Antilochus are brightly coloured, usually red and black, and easily differentiated from other pyrrhocorids by the head being transversely depressed behind the eyes. They are often confused with bugs in the family Lygaeidae, but can be distinguished by the lack of ocelli on the head. Unlike most pyrrhocorids, Antilochus species are predatory, rather than herbivorous.

<i>Melamphaus</i> Genus of true bugs

Melamphaus is an Old World genus of true bugs in the family Pyrrhocoridae, mostly found in Asia. They are often confused with bugs in the family Lygaeidae, but can be distinguished by the lack of ocelli on the head.

<i>Dysdercus cingulatus</i> Insect species

Dysdercus cingulatus is a species of true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as the red cotton stainer. It is a serious pest of cotton crops, the adults and older nymphs feeding on the emerging bolls and the cotton seeds as they mature, transmitting cotton-staining fungi as they do so.

<i>Dysdercus suturellus</i> Species of true bug

Dysdercus suturellus is a species of true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as a cotton stainer. The adult insect is slender, about 1 to 1.5 cm long, with a red thorax and dark brown wings marked with a yellow cross. It is native to the southeast of the United States, Jamaica and Puerto Rico. It is a pest of cotton crops and other plants, the adults and older nymphs feeding on the emerging bolls and the ripening seeds.

<i>Dysdercus koenigii</i> Species of true bug

Dysdercus koenigii is a species of true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, commonly known as the red cotton stainer. It is a serious pest of cotton crops, the adults and older nymphs feeding on the emerging bolls and the cotton seeds as they mature, transmitting cotton staining fungi as they do so.

<i>Dalader</i> Genus of true bugs

Dalader is the type genus of coreid bugs in the Daladerini tribe. Species in the genus are distributed in tropical Asia, chiefly Southeast Asia. The genus name is derived from the Sanskrit roots dal meaning leaf and dhru which means bearer. This plant bug genus is distinguished by the which preterminal antennal segment being flattened, pear-shaped, and ridged and the terminal segment being paler. Chalcidoid egg parasites have been recorded from this species. Adults of Dalader acuticosta are fried and eaten in northeastern India.

<i>Antilochus coquebertii</i> Species of true bug

Antilochus coquebertii is an Old World species of true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, occurring in South and Southeast Asia. It is brightly coloured, red and black, and is a beneficial predator on other pyrrhocorids, especially the genus Dysdercus, which are crop pests. They are often confused with bugs in the family Lygaeidae, but can be distinguished by the lack of ocelli on the head, and they can be easily distinguished from Dysdercus by the lack of white stripes on the body. They are known to be cannibalistic in nature, but are not known to prey on human flesh or blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cydninae</span> Subfamily of true bugs

Cydninae is a subfamily of burrowing bugs in the family Cydnidae. There are about 11 genera and at least 40 described species in Cydninae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpocorini</span> Tribe of true bugs

Carpocorini is a tribe of stink bugs in the family Pentatomidae. There are more than 100 genera in Carpocorini.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Robertson, I.A.D. (2004). "The Pyrrhocoroidea (Hemiptera – Heteroptera) of the Ethiopian region". Journal of Insect Science. 4: 14. doi:10.1093/jis/4.1.14. PMC   528874 . PMID   15861230.
  2. 1 2 Borror, DJ; CA Triplehorn; NF Johnson (1989). An introduction to the study of insects (6 ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing. p. 306.
  3. ↑ Schuh, RT & JA Slater (1995). True bugs of the World (Hemiptera: Heteroptera). Classification and Natural History. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. pp. 268–271.
  4. ↑ Stehlik, Jaroslav L. (2007). "On the Afrotropical species of Myrmoplasta (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)". Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 47: 93–108.
  5. ↑ Schaefer, Carl W. (1999). "Review of Raxa (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 92 (1): 14–19. doi:10.1093/aesa/92.1.14.
  6. ↑ L. Mata; J.M. Grosso-Silva; M. Goula (2013). "Pyrrhocoridae from the Iberian Peninsula (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)" (PDF). Heteropterus Revista de Entomología. 13 (2): 175–189. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2014-04-13.
  7. ↑ BioLib.cz: Pyrrhocoridae Amyot & Audinet-Serville, 1843
  8. ↑ Hussey, RF. (1929). General catalogue of the Hemiptera. Fascicle III. Pyrrhocoridae. Northampton, Mass.: Smith College.
  9. ↑ Schaefer, Carl. W.; Ahmad, Imtiaz (2002). "A review of the Asian genus Euscopus (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)". Oriental Insects. 36 (1): 211–220. doi:10.1080/00305316.2002.10417331. S2CID   84538433.
  10. ↑ Ahmad, Imtiaz; Kamaluddin, Syed (1986). "Froeschnerocoris denticapsulus, a new genus and new species of Pyrrhocoridae (Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoroidea) from the Oriental Region". Journal of the New York Entomological Society. 94 (2): 291–295.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.